Wayside Soda Shop — Restaurant in Holbrook

A Perfect Slice of Route 66 Nostalgia

Today, we stopped at Wayside Soda Shop in Holbrook, AZ, and it turned out to be the most delicious, enjoyable, and memorable stop of our entire road trip.

The quality of the food was exceptional—my husband's green chili burger and my taco salad showcased the unmistakable taste of high-quality beef. And, of course, as a true Route 66 soda shop, we couldn’t pass up a hand-mixed Cherry-Limeade to accompany our meal. It did not disappoint.

But what truly set this experience apart was the heart and soul of Wayside Soda Shop: PeeWee, the incredible 80-year-old owner. She effortlessly moved through the shop, delivering orders, greeting friends and family by name, and collecting hugs along the way. When she reached our table, she welcomed us with warm conversation, asked about our travels, and shared recommendations from her decades of life in the region. She told stories, listened to ours, and made us feel like old friends.

Then, something truly remarkable happened. Without knowing my longing for a piece of petrified wood as a keepsake from this trip, PeeWee quietly stepped away. When we had finished our meal, she returned with a gift from her own collection—a stunning piece of petrified wood to take home.

In that moment, PeeWee touched my heart as only a mother could. As we left, we realized we had just experienced one of those rare, God-given, heavenly moments here on earth—a reminder of a time when strangers were simply friends we hadn’t met yet.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the good food and even better fellowship. We will...

Great local restaurant! Tasty food. Super inexpensive. Large portion size. Staff were all really sweet. So glad we passed the national chains and rolled the dice on this place!

The restaurant is like a diner inside and is a bit dated. Also drinks were served in styrofoam and salsa in paper cups. But, I'm not complaining... that leant to the atmosphere. I only mention it to manage expectations and hope they don't change a thing.

I ordered the ground beef sopa. Ohhh my! It...

A must-see and tasty stop on Route 66. The green chili cheese burger, green chili fries, and pineapple coke are my favorite. Don’t forget the chips and salsa! The staff are awesome and accommodating and the recipes have been around for decades. My husband and I loved it! Great...